Wheeled cover for golf bag or the like

Abstract: A cover for enclosing and supporting a bag such as a golf bag and/or including golf equipment. This cover is of a collapsible nature for easy and convenient storage and handling as compared with rigid covers, having pliant front rear, side, and top portions (12-16). The bottom of the cover has a rigid base (17) with wheels (32) mounted therein. An opening is provided in the cover to permit the insertion of a bag therein, this opening being closable by a suitable device such as a zipper (20). A handle is mounted on the bag to permit the user to roll the bag along on the wheels. When the bag is not in use, the side, front, rear and top portions can be folded down onto the base to make the cover compact for stowage.

Description: This invention relates to a device for containing golf clubs or the like and more particularly to such a device which has wheels to facilitate transportation. Various devices have been developed in the prior art to facilitate the transportation of golf clubs. These generally take the form of golf bags which have wheels attached thereto and are rigid or semi-rigid. Such bags are described in US 4,911,465 issued March 27, 1990 to Hauer and US 4,012,051 issued March 15, 1977 to Emblinder. Both of these bags have compartments for holding the various golf clubs in a set and are not collapsible. US 4,657,135 issued April 14, 1987 to Kjose describes a rigid or semi-rigid golf bag and container which is placed within a zippered flexible covering for transportation. While certain of the prior art devices described above are suitable for transportation when travelling, the covers are integrated with particular types of bags and are not suitable for transporting the type of bag which the user may normally use. A golfer often has a preference for a particular type of golf bag and may prefer to continue using the bag of his choice. Even if the golfer were willing to sacrifice the use of his preferred bag when travelling, it is inexpedient to have two bags, one for home use and one for travelling. US 4951818 of 1990 discloses a golf equipment carrier having a plurality of soft pliable walls made rigid by removable plastic inserts and one rigid longitudinal wall having wheels mounted thereon at each end and at the centre for easy transportation. US 3316951 of 1967 discloses a golf bag carrying case having two long, flexible side walls connected by a zip fastener and one rigid end wall. The cover of the present invention addresses the shortcomings of prior art golf bag covers and travel bags by providing a device for covering a bag or the like, comprising an openable, collapsible, wheelable container, having flexible front, rear, side and top portions and a rigid wheeled base portion characterised in that said rigid wheeled base portion forms substantially an entire end of the container, and has a substantially smaller surface area than either said front, rear or side portions, said front, rear and side portions being collapsible onto said base portion for storage. In an embodiment of the present invention a zipper is provided along one of the sides and top of the cover to facilitate opening and closing of the cover. A golf bag can be placed within the cover with its base resting on the base of the cover and the bag zippered up to fully contain the bag within the cover. A handle and a carrying strap are provided on one of the sides of the cover to facilitate wheeling or carrying of the bag as may be desired. By such means this invention facilitates the transportation of a golf bag or the like, and provides an improved golf bag cover which can be used to wheel such a bag and which can be collapsed into a small package for stowage. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a front perspective view with a partial cutaway section of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the embodiment; Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment with the zipper opened; Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment with the cover collapsed; and Fig. 6 is a left side elevational view of the embodiment showing the cover and its contents being wheeled along. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Cover 11 is elongated and has a generally rectangular shape having opposing front and rear portions 12 and 13, opposing side portions 14 and 15 and a top portion 16, all of which are of a flexible material such as canvas or a suitable plastic. Bottom portion 17 is rigid and may be of a suitable plastic such as polyurethane board. Side 13 is made of two similar pieces 13a and 13b while top 16 is made of two similar pieces 16a and 16b, these pieces being joined together to close the bag by means of zipper 20 which forms closure means. A zippered pouch 22 is formed on side 15 for containing miscellaneous objects such as golf balls, tees, etc. A flexible cloth carrying strap 25 is attached to the front portion 12, and a flexible cloth handle 27 is attached to front portion 12 adjacent to the top end of the carrying strap. Wheels 32 are installed in the rear part of base portion 17. In placing a golf bag, or the like, inside of the cover, zipper 20 is first fully opened as shown in Fig. 4, and the bag 30 to be covered and transported placed within the cover with its bottom resting on rigid bottom portion 17 of the cover. The zipper is then closed to contain the bag 30 within the cover, as shown in Fig. 3. The cover with the golf bag contained therein can be wheeled along on wheels 32 with the user grabbing hold of handle 27. The cover is collapsible and, when not in use, can be folded down on the base portion to make for a compact package for stowage as shown in Fig. 5. While one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the following claims.

Claims: A device for covering a bag (30) or the like, comprising an openable, collapsible, wheelable container, having flexible front, rear, side and top portions (12-16) and a rigid wheeled base portion (17) characterised in that said rigid wheeled base portion forms substantially an entire end of the container, and has a substantially smaller surface area than either said front, rear or side portions, said front, rear and side portions being collapsible onto said base portion for storage. A cover device according to claim 1 having a handle (27) on one of said side, front or rear portions towards said top portion (16) permitting the device and contents in use to be wheeled along. A cover device according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising a carrying strap (25) installed along one of said side portions. A cover device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising closure means in the form of a zip fastener (20), and/or buttons and/or hook-and-loop fabric or the like. A cover device according to claim 4 wherein said closure means (20) is installed in the top (16) and one of the side portions (13) of said cover device. A cover device according to any preceding claim wherein said wheel means comprises a pair of wheels (32) installed at one side of said base portion. A cover device according to any preceding claim having an elongate, generally cylindrical form of a size and shape specifically adapted to receive a golf bag.

Inventors: DUNN STEVEN B, DUNN, STEVEN B.
Applicants: BULLET COUGAR GOLF CORP, BULLET-COUGAR GOLF CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A63B55
IPC codes: A63B55, A45C5, A45C11